Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Duikers' Zoo Debut

Nashville Zoo’s antelope collection continues to expand with the addition of yellow-backed duikers to an exhibit on Bamboo Trail.

“Yellow-backed duikers are small antelopes native to the forests of central and west Africa,” said Lanny Brown, mammal curator.

“There are around 60 yellow-backed duikers in North American zoos, so we are excited to give our visitors the chance to learn more about this rare and relatively unknown animal.”

The two females, ages 3 years old and 9 months old, come to Nashville from San Diego Zoo. They weigh around 150 lbs. and are about four feet long.

Yellow-backed duikers are the largest of the duiker species and the most abundant, however they are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, and a lack of information and education in their native range. They are distinguishable thanks to the large patch of golden hair located on – you guessed it – their lower back. The word duiker (pronounced DIE-kur) is an Africaans word for “one that dives” referring to the animal’s habit of diving into bush or thicket when it is alarmed.

The Zoo hopes to eventually add a male to the collection for breeding.